Is Bharuch’s Jami Masjid a Jain temple? Gujarat High Court seeks Centre’s response

The Gujarat High Court has taken up a case concerning a disputed religious identity of Bharuch’s historic Jami Masjid. Five petitioners, belonging to the "Jain Hindu community," have sought a declaration that the protected monument is a Jain temple. They claim that images, artefacts, and sculptures at the monument have been damaged, raising concerns over further harm to an "idol of Tirthankar Mallinath."

The petition was filed by Hari Shankar Jain and four others. A hearing was conducted by Justice Nisha M Thakore on Friday, who directed the Union government and other central authorities to submit a comprehensive response by October 13. The petitioners provided photographs and a video as evidence of the idol’s condition, alleging damage to the monument.

They argued that the monument, recorded as a mosque in Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) records, is, in fact, a Jain Hindu temple. Their legal team cited the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and a Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment to support their claim.

During the hearing, the central authorities' counsel maintained that the monument had been maintained strictly in accordance with the law. The court acknowledged that the petitioners had bypassed the relevant authorities by directly approaching the High Court. However, it emphasized the ASI's statutory obligation to protect and preserve the structure, including the idol, and asked the respondents' counsel to obtain complete instructions on the allegations.